Safety apparatus

ABSTRACT

A manipulating tool and apparatus for handling items in hazardous work zones, without entrance of the hands into the work zone, including a tool releasably mounted on the human hand. On installation the tool includes secondary restraining means engaging the hand to limit extension of the hand in emergencies.

States atent [191 [4 net. 25, 1973 SAFETY APPARATUS Robert G.Millington, Treichlers, Pa.

Assignee: ll-lims, lnc., Allentown, Pa.

Filed: Apr. 3, 1972 Appl. No.: 240,572

Inventor:

U.S. Cl 294/25, 30/232, 294/106 Int. Cl B25!) 7/04 Field of Search294/25, 118; 29/203 H, 203 HM; 30/232, 298; 81/43 References CitedUNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1968 Millington 294/25 8/1921 Gower 30/2329/1968 Johnson et al 30/232 Primary Examiner-Evon C. Blunk AssistantExaminer.lohnny D. Cherry Attorney-Frederic C. Dreyer [5 7] ABSTRACT Amanipulating tool and apparatus for handling items in hazardous workzones, without entrance of the hands into the work zone, including atool releasably mounted on the human hand. On installation the toolincludes secondary restraining means engaging the hand to limitextension of the hand in emergencies.

9 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures SHEET 10F 2 PATENIED DEC 25 I975 FIG.2

SAFETY APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present inventionrelates to safety tools and safety installations and is concerned moreparticularly with hand-extension manipulators having overload oremergency-release means for engaging the hand on which it is mounted.Preferably, secondary means are included for restraining the hand fromthe work zone after release of the emergency-release mount.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART The best prior art known to me isthat described in my prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,415,563, issued Dec. 10,1968.

However, the advancement in our technology and production efficiency hasincreased the hazards to skilled hands in high-production operationsperformed by machinists, punch-press operators and others.

This has been formally recognized by the passage of the much-neededOccupational Safety and Health Act by recent action of the Congress ofthe United States.

The prior attempts in safety installations including, under certaincircumstances, my own device of U.S. Pat. No. 3,415,563 have not beenfound to be entirely satisfactory.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to safety toolsand installation, and is concerned, more particularly, with hand-mountedmanipulators which include safetyrelease mountings. Preferably, theinstallation includes secondary restraining means independently operableand effective upon release of the safety-release mountings of the tool.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A better understanding of theinvention may be derived from the following description and accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the preferred tool of my invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the tool of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a sectional viewtaken on lines 3-3 of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a view detailing the finger mounts of the tool;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view detailing the means for changingthe angles of the working extensions;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the preferred installation of my invention;

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the tool and hand of FIG. 6, and

FIG. 8 is a view showing the effect of the secondary restraining meansin the installation of FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED TOOL As shown in FIGS. 1 through 5, thepreferred form of tool comprises a pair of arms 1 and 2 which are hingedfor scissor-like motion by a hinge 3. I prefer to locate the hinge 3 atthe wrist-mount as taught in and for the reasons set forth in my priorU.S. Pat. No. 3,4 l 5,5 63. The hinge is mounted generally perpendicularto the wrist by a releaseable wrist-mount strap 4 by means of a U-shapedbracket 5.

wrist-mount, such as the buckle and snap-fastener of my prior patent.

The remote ends of the arms I and 2 are curved to I form transversewalls 7 and 8 which are generally perpendicular to the major portions ofthe arms. The walls 7 and 8 carry. finger mounts 9 and 10.

The finger mounts 9 and 10 are equivalent in construction and only onewill be described in detail, for the sake of brevity. As best shown inFIG. 4, the finger mounts each comprise a U-shaped, preferably metal,bracket 12 mounted on the wall by suitable means such as the severalrivets I3 and having opposing legs 14 and 15.

The outer ends of the legs 14 and 15 have dished areas or roundedrecesses I6 and 17, respectively, with the hollows of the recessesfacing each other. The rounded sockets carry projections or pins 18 and19, respectively, which extend inwardly from and are directed towardeach other.

While I prefer the deformed or drawn form of pins on metal brackets, asshown, the projections may take other forms, particularly if thebrackets are formed of material other than metal.

The pins 18 and 19 engage a swivel ring 20 therebetween which isresiliently secured on the pins by diametrically-opposed sockets 21 and22 in the outer surface 23 of the rings.

The ring 20 has a finger bore 24 therein. The outer surface 23 is curvedforward and aft, with respect to the finger bore 24, generallyconforming to the rounded recesses 16 and I7. I prefer to form the rings20 of a relatively tough plastic, such as nylon, but other materials canbe used. For comfort and safety, the rings should be free of sharpedges.

The rounded recesses, pins and sockets thus form trunnions in which therings 20 may rotate on an axis substantially perpendicular to both theaxis of the hinge 3 and the axis of the finger bore 24.

Therefore, the rings are angularly self-adjusting to the comfort of thefingers on which they are engaged, and further permit the same tool tobe used on right hands and left hands interchangeably.

As best shown in FIG. 5, the tool includes forward extensions 25 and 26mounted to forward-extending flanges 27 and 28. The mounts between theextensions and the flanges are equivalent and, for brevity, only onewill be described in detail.

The flanges have a ring of socket apertures 29 surrounding andconcentric with a bolt aperture 30. The forward extensions carry aplurality of pins 3i arranged on a circle equal to the circle of thesocket apertures and concentric with a bolt aperture 32 in the forwardextension.

The pins 31 are spaced from each other at degrees on the circle tocoincide with and enter the socket apertures. The forward extension andflange are held in position by a bolt 33 and a knurled nut 34.

This mounting permits realignment and locking of the forward extensions25 and 26 in selected positions to accommodate objects of differentsize, independently of the position of the arms, and to adapt to desiredangles for rightor left-hand use.

While the forward extensions are shown with resilient terminal portionsof caps and 36 for general purpose use, it is to be understood thatdifferent terminals may be used for specialized work.

OPERATION OF THE PREFERRED TOOL In use, the strap 4 is secured about thewrist and the thumb and the forefinger inserted in the different fingerbores 24. If the tool is mounted on the right hand, the thumb will be inthe finger mount 9 while the forefinger will engage the finger mount 10.If on the left hand, the thumb and finger will engage the mounts 10 and9, respectively.

It is to be understood that a finger pair other than the thumb andforefinger may be used, if desired, or if required by loss of a fingerin a previous accident.

Also, the tool is entirely satisfactory in use on the inside of thehand, instead of on the back of the hand, since the finger mounts willswivel to permit such use without reassembly of the entire tool. In thisinstance, the hinge 3 and arms will extend alongside the palm of thehand, instead of along the back, and the thumb and finger simply realignthe swivel rings to accommodate themselves.

Of particular importance in my new tool is the emergency-releasabilityprovided by the swivelling finger mounts in conjunction with thereleaseable wrist mount.

If the tool were caught in machinery or otherwise forcibly directed awayfrom the body and hand, the releaseable-fastener 6 will disengage thewrist before real damage to that member.

The swivelling finger mounts, since they are selfaligning with thefingers, then will rotate on their axes to the extent required to permitthe relatively more vulnerable fingers to slide-free of the tool as itis carried away.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED INSTALLATION As best shown in FIG. 6, ahand mounted manipulator carries an apertured swivel-link 41 rotablymounted on its hinge 42. The swivel link aperture is engaged by an endsnap 43 of a tether 44, which is secured at its other end 45 to arelatively stable structure 46 to the rear of the operator.

The manipulator 40 includes suitable finger mounts 47 and anemergency-release wrist-mount 48. Preferably, however, the manipulatoris as disclosed hereinbefore, and as shown in FIGS. 1-5.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the manipulator further includes a flexibleloop or strap 49 adapted to encircle the base of the thumb or anotherfinger of the hand, apart from any other engagement of the tool and thehand. The strap 49 is secured to the hinge portion of the manipulator,such as to the hinge itself, as shown.

The swivel-link minimizes the discomfort or interference by the tether,since the link swivels on the hinge 3, but permits a loop or a snap toswivel perpendicular to the motion at the hinge 3, much as occurs in auniversal joint.

The strap 49 provides a secondary means for restraining only forwardmotion of the hand beyond the predetermined limits defined by the tether44.

For example, and as depicted in FIG. 8, the manipulator may be partiallydisengaged from the hand, such as to apply or adjust a manipulator onthe other hand,

or during a brief rest period, and engaged only by the releaseablewrist-mount 48.

If an object such as a tool or part were to start rolling off the workarea, or upon any provocation, the operator may instinctively lunge, orsuddenly reach forward, breaking the releasable fastener of wrist mount48 and reaching into the danger zone.

With the installation and tool of my invention, however, the secondaryrestraint by the strap 49 will prevent entrance of the hand only in thedirection of and into the danger zone even though the wrist mount 48were to be released.

Thus, a hazard of relatively instant duration, but permanentconsequences, is anticipated, and the potential damage prevented. Thestrap 49 does not impose any restraint other than in the direction ofthe danger zone.

Various changes may be made in the details of my invention, asdisclosed, without sacrificing the advantages thereof or departing fromthe scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A safety tool comprising a pair of arms,

hinge means joining said arms,

a releasable wrist mount engaging at least one of said arms adjacent thehinge means,

at least one finger mount, said finger mount being positioned on one ofsaid arms, said finger mount including a member having afinger-receiving bore therein, and

swivel means mounting said member having the finger-receiving bore toswivel transverse to the finger bore on an axis substantiallyperpendicular to the axis of the finger bore and to the axis of thehinge means.

2. The safety tool of claim 1 in which the finger mount includes aU-shaped bracket, the legs of the bracket each have a recess therein,said recesses are arranged to face each other, and the member havingsaid finger bore therein is a ring received between said recesses.

3. The safety tool of claim 2 in which the ring hasdiametrically-opposed socket in its outer surface, and said roundedrecesses have projections thereon adapted to be received in saidsockets.

4. The safety tool of claim 3 in which the recesses in the bracket legsand the outer surface of the ring are arcuate.

5. A safety tool comprising a pair of arms,

hinge means joining said arms,

a wrist mount engaging at least one of said arms adjacent said hingemeans,

at least one finger mount,

said finger mount being positioned on one of said arms forward of saidhinge,

a forward extension on each of said arms and positioned to extendforward beyond the region of said finger mount, said forward extensionseach-having a terminal portion for engaging work objects,

spacing means for regulating the spacing of said terminal portionsindependently of the spacing of said arms, said spacing means includinga circular group of apertures on one of said arms and said forwardextension,

a group of raised portions on the other of said arms and said forwardextension, said raised portions means for securing said tether to astructure to limit motion of the tool in a selected direction,

and secondary restraining means engaging said tether and adapted toengage the hand to restrain motion of the hand beyond the selected limitindependently of the releaseable hand mount.

8. The safety installation of claim 7 in which the tether engages thetool by means of an aperture in a swivel link.

9. The safety installation of claim 7 in which the secondary restrainingmeans includes a flexible loop adapted to engage the base of a finger ofthe hand.

1. A safety tool comprising a pair of arms, hinge means joining saidarms, a releasable wrist mount engaging at least one of said armsadjacent the hinge means, at least one finger mount, said finger mountbeing positioned on one of said arms, said finger mount including amember having a finger-receiving bore therein, and swivel means mountingsaid member having the finger-receiving bore to swivel transverse to thefinger bore on an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of thefinger bore and to the axis of the hinge means.
 2. The safety tool ofclaim 1 in which the finger mount includes a U-shaped bracket, the legsof the bracket each have a recess therein, said recesses are arranged toface each other, and the member having said finger bore therein is aring received between said recesses.
 3. The safety tool of claim 2 inwhich the ring has diametrically-opposed socket in its outer surface,and said rounded reCesses have projections thereon adapted to bereceived in said sockets.
 4. The safety tool of claim 3 in which therecesses in the bracket legs and the outer surface of the ring arearcuate.
 5. A safety tool comprising a pair of arms, hinge means joiningsaid arms, a wrist mount engaging at least one of said arms adjacentsaid hinge means, at least one finger mount, said finger mount beingpositioned on one of said arms forward of said hinge, a forwardextension on each of said arms and positioned to extend forward beyondthe region of said finger mount, said forward extensions each having aterminal portion for engaging work objects, spacing means for regulatingthe spacing of said terminal portions independently of the spacing ofsaid arms, said spacing means including a circular group of apertures onone of said arms and said forward extension, a group of raised portionson the other of said arms and said forward extension, said raisedportions being sized and positioned to be received into said aperturesin successive positions, and retaining means for selectively locking andreleasing the members at the successive positions.
 6. The safety tool ofclaim 5 in which the retaining means comprises a threaded member joiningthe members at a point within and concentric with the aperture circle.7. A safety installation comprising a tool including a releaseable handmount, restraining means including a tether engaging said tool, meansfor securing said tether to a structure to limit motion of the tool in aselected direction, and secondary restraining means engaging said tetherand adapted to engage the hand to restrain motion of the hand beyond theselected limit independently of the releaseable hand mount.
 8. Thesafety installation of claim 7 in which the tether engages the tool bymeans of an aperture in a swivel link.
 9. The safety installation ofclaim 7 in which the secondary restraining means includes a flexibleloop adapted to engage the base of a finger of the hand.